Barefootbutterfly Studio Blog

First of all I am very new to the blogging world so if im doing wrong or if you have tips for me, please feel free to email me or comment! My creative mind seems to always be in high gear so when I saw the glass totems people were making I decided to try a birdbath because I have lots of little birds in yard that are always twittering about! I already had a few pieces but just started looking for more on my regular thrift store junkin days, keeping in mind the structure I was going for. I needed a sturdy base, some medium sized pieces for the center column & then a nice big dish for the top. It evolved into a 2 tier birdbath when I scored 2 pickle dishes in the same pattern both with cute little handles! I set up the bottom half & the top half separately & dry so I could see how the pieces would fit. I had my man by my side ready to catch in case of disaster! I then glued 2-3 pieces together then let set overnight. When those were nice & dry I glued the bottom 2 portions & let sit for around 5 hours, then glued the top section on. There done!No wait... I was a bit stalled when it came to the top. I knew I wanted a small focal piece but I wasn't sure what. I tried setting a few different finials (bottle toppers) there & they just didn't seem to turn my crank. I went on a final junkin hunt (who am I kidding, there is never a final junkin hunt) for a small glass bird & all I could find was a black & clear swirly one, thinking to myself how many times I had seen a clear glass one but had never picked it up,lol. I brought the little "black sheep" birdy home & to my surprise it added just the right amount of dark to the otherwise sparkling clearness of the glass! I glued her on & set her out & she glistens in the sun so beautifully! I used Goop Household glue which specifies it is for glass and I handle it very carefully, making sure to lift it from the base. Next project.. one for my mom's new house!

I have since finished one for my mom's new home & another one you can see here which I made almost entirely out of vintage early American prescut glass.. she's a beauty!

UPDATE! :)I've had a bunch of questions as to what the pieces are in this bird bath so here goes...There are 20 pieces in this birdbath all together... #1-the bottom piece is a large plate. I've heard that old microwave plates work well for this & you can cover them with dirt or mulch. #2- a bowl with a square foot. #3- a square decanter. #'s 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 are custard bowls. #11 is the large pickle dish with handles,#'s 12,13 & 14 are more custard dishes. #15 is a cut glass candle holder. #16 (which is sort of hidden inside #15) is a smaller cut glass candle holder.#17 is the twin of 16 turned upside down.#18 is the small pickle dish with handles.#19 is the finial (top, lid) from #3 (the square decanter) last but not least, #20 is my little black & clear swirled birdie! I find if you use thicker glass everything is much sturdier & use quite a bit of glue & allow to dry very thoroughly, gluing 2, maybe 3 pieces together at a time. I'm creating my next one with mostly all pieces of glass with a familiar vintage pattern called Early American Prescut Pattern by Anchor Hocking. It's also called the Star of David pattern & I think everyone had a cream & covered sugar bowl in their home! It's been fun finding pieces to make the bird bath & I'm almost ready to start gluing! :)

Love this, but can't find the info on what kind of glue you used? Mary x

5/6/2013 08:59:15 pm

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barefootbutterfly

5/7/2013 10:32:53 am

Hi Mary, I used Goop Household which has a 5 start rating for glass :)

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Marlene

5/7/2013 09:54:32 am

Just delightful!!!!! Thank you for sharing.

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Kimberly

5/8/2013 01:18:09 am

Absolutely brilliant! I have been on the hunt for a birdbath and I too love making things. This is gorgeous.

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what beautiful talent you have!!! this birdbath is just too gorgeous. I have so many birdbaths around the yard but i can't wait to try - and i mean that "try" - this one. almost hate to put it outside. Thanks again for sharing your god given talent wi

Very pretty! I have some of those pieces from some of my junking trips.
Have that tray with the handles and a silver bird.

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Bev

6/13/2013 02:41:42 am

This is awesome and I just had to share it (plus your new blog) on pinterest. I started a new board titled for the birds. Check it out and follow it if you would like. Best of luck with your blog and I will be back. BTW...you did an awesome job blogging. TYFS.

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barefootbutterfly

6/14/2013 02:47:29 pm

thank you so much for the wonderful comments everyone :) feelin the love <3

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I absolutely love this birdbath! I have already started collecting my items to build one myself. I do like the idea of a 2 tier. Can you tell me the height of the one in this post? Thanks!

Found this through Kristi Linauer and LOVE it! I am looking to replace my birdbath and this one looks perfect, I even have a thrift shop five minutes from my house with boxes of glass that I've been waiting to buy for a project! I would love it if you would come link this up at my Linky party!

Thank you so much! please feel free to check out other blog post here as i have made another birdbath which i like even more than the first :) I'm also a photographer & artist so take a browse through my website!
Carolyn

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Cindy B.

6/27/2014 10:36:17 am

Love this !!!!! It's so clever and beautiful. Great job ! I'm inspired.

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rochelle

7/26/2015 12:52:41 pm

I love your bird bath. I tired to but one together last Summer with the same glue but it fell apart and broke. :(

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barefootbutterfly

7/27/2015 03:10:52 pm

Hi Rochelle.. sorry to hear you didn't have good luck with it! there's a pretty specific way of putting it all together... you have to choose pieces of glass that have smooth edges, you need to glue only 2 pieces at a time & let them dry thoroughly before glueing any others to it & the pieces need to sort of "fit" almost like a puzzle. I would also recommend not leaving you finished glass item outside in cold or wet weather. Hope you have better luck next time!

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Sandy

3/2/2016 07:29:21 am

I have used Goop for outside projects but I have had to do it over again after time. The absolute best glue I have found I'd GE Silicon that states weather and water resistant. Of course use clear but be careful since it sometimes doesn't get entirely clear when it gets inside the objects. I don't even bring my glass in during the winter but it doesn't freeze often here. I have had Glass flowers out in my yard for about three years and they've done well. Hope this helps.